The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

'Postcard Bandit' Brenden Abbott to face Perth court

The notorious bank robber dubbed the "Postcard Bandit" is due to face court in Perth after being extradited from Queensland over a prison escape 27 years ago.

Brenden Abbott is listed to appear via video link in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday morning, charged with escaping legal custody, which relates to his 1989 escape from Fremantle prison.

Abbott was released from a Brisbane jail on parole in April, having served 18 years of a 25-year sentence for a string of robberies and another brazen escape from a Queensland prison in 1997, but WA authorities ensured he was swiftly arrested.

The 53-year-old fought the extradition, but was unsuccessful and was flown to Perth on Wednesday.